Opening a gym in the middle of a global pandemic might sound like a gamble, but for Mike Berardino, it was simply the right time to bring his vision to life. On September 4, 2020—the first day gyms were allowed to reopen in New York—Just Lift Fitness officially opened its doors, welcoming members into a space built not just for physical transformation, but for lasting community.
As a former personal trainer, Mike had already spent years helping clients improve their lives one workout at a time. But personal training, while deeply fulfilling, limited the number of people he could reach. “Creating Just Lift Fitness gave me the ability to help more than just my clients,” he explains. “I’ve been able to guide, facilitate, and build great relationships with everyone who has entered our facility.”
That sense of relationship-building is at the heart of everything Mike does. From the beginning, his vision for Just Lift Fitness was clear: create a welcoming, supportive environment that feels like a second home. A place where everyone—not just seasoned athletes—can feel empowered to set and crush their goals.
“The vision was always to be a home away from home,” Mike says. “An overwhelming sense of comfort, and giving our members the ability to accomplish all and every goal they put in front of them.”
Mike’s path to becoming a gym owner began in his early 20s, when his lifelong love of sports and fitness led him to pursue personal training certification. Once certified, he quickly found himself at home in a local gym, helping clients reach goals they once thought impossible. “Watching my clients progress and hearing how working out changed their lives really fueled my soul,” he says. “Their goals became my goals.”
That passion grew into a purpose—and eventually into a business. But it wasn’t just his drive that made Just Lift Fitness possible. One of Mike’s earliest clients saw so much value in his guidance that she invested in his vision. “She was stuck and couldn’t lose weight on her own,” Mike recalls. “We worked together for six months, she lost 60 pounds, and it changed her life. Her transformation made this entire gym a reality.”
Just Lift Fitness offers both one-on-one and small group training, specializing in weight loss, strength building, endurance, and overall well-being. But it’s the members themselves who make the gym stand out. “The sense of community and feeling welcome—that comes from our members,” Mike says. “They work hard, they help each other, and they have fun doing it.”
The culture Mike has created is grounded in authenticity and respect. Listening, he says, is the key to great coaching and client relationships. “It’s about understanding what someone’s trying to communicate and why, then developing a plan that takes small, patient steps forward,” he explains. His goal is to make the process sustainable, so clients are building habits for life, not just the short term.
“Taking care of your body is a 24/7 event,” Mike says. “Smart choices, showing up, listening to your body, and becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable—that’s where the real change happens.”
As a business owner, Mike has faced his share of challenges—none bigger than launching a gym in the uncertainty of 2020. “It was truly one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done,” he admits. “But building something during that time showed me what I’m capable of and what’s possible when you lead with heart.”
He credits his motivation to values learned early in life. “My father always told me half the battle is just showing up,” Mike shares. “But beyond that, you have to set realistic goals and take small steps every day to reach them.”
That mindset continues to drive him as he grows both personally and professionally. He’s constantly focused on how to create the best possible experience for his members, always thinking like the consumer. “Step outside of your personal wants,” he advises others looking to enter the fitness industry. “Ask yourself—what do people actually need? What’s going to make them walk through the door and stay?”
When he’s not in the gym, you’ll most likely find Mike at home with his two dogs, working in the garden or building something with his hands. “I love working on projects and turning ideas into reality,” he says. “It’s a lot like the gym—taking a vision and making it tangible.”
As Just Lift Fitness continues to grow, Mike remains grounded in what matters most: helping others become the strongest, healthiest versions of themselves. Through trust, consistency, and community, he’s lifting far more than weights—he’s lifting lives.
“The vision was always to be a home away from home.”
“Taking care of your body is a 24/7 event.”